Mr. Campbell to Mr. Seward
Sir: Mr. Marshall, our consul at Matamoros, came to this city yesterday and returned to-day. I learn from him that Mexican affairs are quiet on the Rio Grande, and that reliable information had been received at Matamoros of the capture of Puebla by the liberal forces.
My special messenger to President Juarez, Mr. White, on reaching Brazos Santiago, on the steamer Blackbird, received information through Major General Reynolds, commanding at Brownsville, Mr. Marshall, and General Berriozabal, commanding the liberal forces at Matamoras, which induced him, acting under the advice of General Reynolds, to change his route, and proceed overland from Matamoras to San Luis Potosi.
It appears that Gomez, who commands the so-called liberal forces at Tampico, and Canales, who has also a force near that city, are not co-operating in good faith with President Juarez, and have refused to obey the orders which emanate from him. It is said they hold the custom-house of that city, and are disposed to use their commands rather for their own personal aggrandizement and benefit than to advance the common cause of the Mexican republic. These are stated facts of which I was not apprised when I instructed Mr. White to proceed via Tampico, and I am well satisfied that the advice of General Reynolds was discreet. Under such circumstances there would have been little reliability in the escort which General Gomez might have furnished him from Tampico into the interior. The result of my observations when at Tampico, in December last, left the impression on my mind that the military authorities there were not very devoted to the cause of President Juarez, and I have learned nothing since that should change it.
Mr. White left Matamoras with an escort furnished by General Berriozabal, and probably reached San Luis Potosi about the 20th instant. I expect his return here within the next ten days, with full information as to the situation of affairs in Mexico, which, when received, I will as speedily as possible communicate to you.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.